Zero Tolerance, No Excuses...what should happen to pupils who can’t behave?

[noblegiraffe]

There are an increasing number of schools across the country adopting ‘No Excuses’ behaviour policies where the slightest misdemeanour is cracked down on and punished. Children are removed from the classroom and isolated if they break the rules. The level of expulsions is creeping up.

A tribunal has just criticised a school for putting its zero tolerance behaviour policy above the education of a child with special needs.
The student has ADHD and epilepsy, the behaviour policy was applied rigidly and the school now has to issue a letter of apology to the student for its failure to make reasonable adjustments.

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/academy-put-zero-tolerance-policy-above-pupils-education-tribunal

Do you think that schools should be allowed to have zero tolerance?

It's also pertinent to remember it's not just kids with send who will find zero tolerance difficult.

I was an extremely well behaved and compliant child. But I naturally had low self esteem (due to dynamics at home) and naturally was passive and eager to please.

I struggled through secondary enough because I didn't want to get into trouble, couldn't speak up when others being disruptive was affecting me etc.
If I'd have had to spend my whole 5 years worried about instant punishment for mistakes (forgotten pen or homework) with no support or understanding or chance to rectify it - I'd have drowned.

youarenotkiddingme

But surely you can have zero tolerance of some things and not others? So, you can punish disrespectful behaviour right away, but give discretionary warnings for other things? That's what I would do anyway.

He shouldn't be in a mainstream school if he cannot cope with normal and reasonable behaviour expectations.Schools cannot have a two-tier behaviour policy where some kids get away with rule breaking and others don't!i
I do not believe this is all the schools fault, he got sacked from his work experience placement!

Er you do realise there are hardly any ss places?

Schools cannot have a two-tier behaviour policy where some kids get away with rule breaking and others don't!

In general I agree with this. I am happy to differentiate based on need in terms of, for example, number of warnings given, tone, strategies to de-escalate and prevent certain behaviours, but I am never going to permit certain students to swear in my classroom, to not wear the uniform (unless for medical reasons), to not attempt the work (except when they need urgent help).

You have to balance policy, fairness to all students and individual needs.

I am, unfortunately, asked quite regularly to make completely unreasonable exceptions. Not even by parents. By SLT.

5plus luckily for send pupils you are not responsible for them. The equality act calls for reasonable adjustments.

Peng the problem with zero tolerance in some schools though is it is just that - zero. Forgot a pen? Instant 30 min detention that evening after school. There is no wiggle room. And it is a very negative and demoralising strategy.

And something people may need to consider is that parents are often fighting for an EHCP for their child and the right placement. The system is horrendous. But as they can't get their legal entitlement then they must attend MS (we are often advised of our legal responsibility to get it child to school even if they are self harming or harming us as a result of anxiety). Then they get to the school and often get punished (where there is zero tolerance) because they can't manage the environment.

Camhs were extremely helpful with my ds by explaining that people expected his communication to reflect his cognitive ability and language ability (advanced). His emotional ability is pre school level. Therefore you have to consider you wouldn't exclude a 3yo from nursery for having a tantrum. You have to apply that same level of expectation to the 12yo who emotionally is 3.

Peng the problem with zero tolerance in some schools though is it is just that - zero. Forgot a pen? Instant 30 min detention that evening after school. There is no wiggle room. And it is a very negative and demoralising strategy.

That isn't the problem with zero tolerance. It is the problem with the things they have decided to show zero tolerance of.

I am all for chances. However, that requires giving staff the discretion to give students chances in line with what they believe is fair. And telling parents, 'No, Mr. X is a professional - we trust his judgement and are upholding the detention for the third occasion on which little Bobby forgot his pen.'

Schools are increasingly expected to be able to justify every decision in objective, documented terms, which is burdensome and silly, and leads to the adoption of silly policies.